Calgary Flames Re-Sign Sam Bennett

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 08: Sam Bennett #93 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck during the second period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on December 8, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Flames defeated the Coyotes 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Calgary Flames Re-Sign Sam Bennett

Bennett spent his junior career with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In his three seasons in Kingston, Bennett scored 155 points, 65 of which were goals.

Bennett has yet to live up to his high expectations. In 159 career regular season games, he has just 63 points. While only playing one regular season game due to shoulder surgery in 2014-15, Bennett scored four points in 11 playoff games that year. He spent his second year playing on the wing, despite being drafted as a centre. Last season saw Bennett struggle greatly, putting up only 26 points, 13 goals and 13 assists, in 81 games. To make matters worse, Bennett was highly undisciplined, taking costly and often unnecessary penalties. Looking ahead to this upcoming season, Bennett is most likely going to start the year on the third line with Kris Versteeg and Curtis Lazar. Despite all of his early career struggles, Calgary still believes he will be an important part of this team’s core

The amount of time it took to get this deal done was becoming increasingly worrisome for the Flames fanbase. Many were worried that Bennett would sit out training camp, as Johnny Gaudreaudid one season earlier, if a deal was not agreed to before hand.

This new contract makes sense for both sides. Bennett now has two more years to prove himself, and reach that elite potential that both he and the Flames organization know he has. Meanwhile, his cap-friendly deal allows Calgary to pursue a free agent winger in order to fill an open spot in the bottom-six of their lineup.